Indonesia angry at Australia's response to spying revelations

Indonesia recalls its ambassador from Australia following reports that Australian spies attempted to listen to the president's mobile phone

Australia's prime minister, Tony Abbott (right), is facing a diplomatic crisis with Indonesia over claims that Canberra tried to spy on the phone calls of Indonesia's president, Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his inner circle and wife, Kristiani Herawati.

AP

4:50AM GMT 19 Nov 2013

Indonesia's president has stepped up the pressure on Australia over allegations its neighbour tapped calls from his phone, saying the action was deplorable and will lead to a review of cooperation agreements.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a Bahasa language tweet confirmed by his office said: "I also deplore the statement of Australian Prime Minister who underestimates the wiretapping of Indonesia, without sense of guilt."

A later English tweet used the word regret instead of deplore, and said the statement "belittled this tapping matter on Indonesia, without any remorse."

Tony Abbott, the Australian prime minister, said he regrets any embarrassment to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over claims his phone was spied on, but stopped short of an apology.

"Australia has deep respect for Indonesia, for its government and for its people," he told parliament of the vital strategic and trading partner.

But Mr Abbott made clear Australia should not be expected to apologise for working to protect the nation.

"Australia should not be expected to apologise for the steps we take to protect our country now or in the past, any more than other governments should be expected to apologise for the similar steps that they have taken," he said.

Indonesia had already announced that it was recalling its ambassador from Australia following reports that Australian spies attempted to listen to the president's mobile phone in 2009.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. and The Guardian reported that they had documents from National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden showing that the top-secret Australian Signals Directorate also targeted the phones of Indonesian first lady Kristiani Herawati and eight other government ministers and officials.

Mr Yudhoyono tweeted that Indonesia wanted an official response from Australia "that can be understood by the public."

"We will also review a number of bilateral cooperation agreements as a consequence of this hurtful action by Australia."

Mr Abbott earlier had declined to publicly comment in the diplomatic row for fear of inflaming the division in what he describes as Australia's most important bilateral relationship.

"Obviously today may not be the best day in that relationship, but nevertheless we do have a very good and strong relationship with Indonesia," he told reporters.

"It's in no one's interest to do anything or to say anything that would jeopardize that relationship and certainly I'm not going to," he added.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Tuesday that her government took "exceedingly seriously" Indonesian concerns about the allegations, but told reporters in India that she would not publicly discuss Australia's espionage activities.

"We are aware of their concerns, and we take them exceedingly seriously, but I'm not going to comment on intelligence matters," she said.

Indonesian Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema left the Australian capital Canberra on Tuesday morning for Jakarta, urging the Australian government to come clean on the spying episode.

"I think a good explanation will be the best way ... to ease the problem," Mr Kesoema told reporters at Canberra airport.

The diplomatic spat is the second in less than a month between Indonesia and Australia stemming from Snowden's revelations linking Australia with U.S. espionage.

It's an early test for Mr Abbott's government, which was elected in September and is anxious to cement ties with it populous near-neighbor before the uncertainty of Indonesian presidential elections next year.

Australia wants to increase cooperation with Indonesia to solve a politically sensitive problem of asylum seekers paying human traffickers to bring them by boat from the Indonesian archipelago to Australian shores.